Motorway Driving Tips For Young Drivers

Motorway Driving Tips For Young Drivers

Heading out onto a public road for the first time can be a daunting experience. And the same applies when you’re using a motorway for the first time. Driving on these six-lane highways is easy when you know how – but, to begin with, it can be somewhat daunting.

Let’s consider a few essential tips that will help you get the best from your first motorway drive.

Preparing for Your Journey

It’s easier to be confident about your first motorway drive when you know that the vehicle is in optimal condition. Check the tyre pressure and oil levels, and perform any necessary adjustments. Make sure you know the junctions via which you’re going to be entering and exiting the motorway, and try to rehearse the journey with an online service like Google Maps.

Staying Safe in Adverse Conditions

Ideally, your first motorway drive will take place under ideal weather conditions. In practice, however, this isn’t always possible. If it’s going to be foggy, snowy or rainy, then you’ll need to adjust your driving behaviour. This tends to mean slowing down, and maintaining a safe distance from the vehicle in front.

You’ll need to be insured if you’re going to legally drive on any public road, including a motorway. Specialist young driver car insurance policies can provide cover at a reasonable rate. These policies often work through a special ‘black box’ device, which transmits information on your driving behaviour back to the insurer.

Understanding Motorway Rules and Lane Discipline

When driving on a motorway, you’ll need to stick to the national speed limit, which is seventy miles per hour. However, there may be special temporary speed limits in force in certain areas. Check the signage over and around the highway, and adjust your speed accordingly.

On the motorway, you’ll want to stick to the left-hand lane unless you’re overtaking the person in front of you. Don’t stay in the middle lane. This will force drivers behind you to pull all the way across to the right and back again when they overtake. This can cause congestion, and increase the risk of an accident.

Navigating Smart Motorways

‘Smart’ motorways are those which use technology to optimise the flow of traffic. In some cases, this might mean opening the hard shoulder, or closing some lanes. Look for the electronic signs hanging above the road, and pay attention in particular to red ‘X’ symbols and numbers (which indicate that a new speed limit is in force).

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